Folau Niua

Folau Niua

Full name	Folau Niua
Date of birth	(1985-01-27) January 27, 1985
Place of birth	Palo Alto, California, United States
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	197 lb (89 kg)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fly-half
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
	East Palo Alto San Francisco Golden Gate RFC
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2014	Glasgow Warriors	1	(0)
correct as of June 27, 2014.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2013–present	United States	17	(28)
correct as of October 7, 2015.
Sevens national teams
Years	Club / team		Comps
2011–present	United States		28 (322; 29t)
correct as of September 2, 2015.

Folau Niua (born January 27, 1985) is an American rugby union player, who has played fly-half for the United States national rugby sevens team since 2011.

Early career

Folau Niua is from East Palo Alto in California. Niua previously played his club rugby with the East Palo Alto Razorbacks, where he helped the club win a Division II national championship. He then played with San Francisco Golden Gate, where he helped the team win a Rugby Super League national championship.^[1] Niua played in the August 2011 national all-star championships, where his impressive scoring ability and fitness led the Pacific Coast team.^[2]

U.S. national team (7s)

Niua debuted for the U.S. national sevens team at the 2011 Pan American Games, where, despite his lack of international tournament experience, he was the starting flyhalf.^[3] Niua was the top scorer for the U.S. in that tournament with 41 points, including a 78% success rate in kicking his conversions, helping the U.S. achieve a bronze medal.^[4]

Niua signed a professional contract with USA Rugby in January 2012 to play full-time for the U.S. national sevens team. Niua was a regular on the U.S. national team in the 2011–12 IRB Sevens World Series, finishing the season as one of the leading scorers for the team. Niua has also played for the U.S. during the 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series, leading the team with 30 points at the 2012 South Africa Sevens.^[5]

U.S. national team (15s)

Folau Niua playing for the USA during the 2015 World Cup

Niua had been in consideration during summer of 2011 for a place at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but ultimately did not make the tournament roster.^[6] Niua made the roster for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Professional career

In February 2014 Niua signed a contract with the Glasgow Warriors.^[7] Niua was released by Glasgow at the end of the season having made only one appearance for the club.^[8]

See also

• United States national rugby sevens team

References